Facial massage mask



June 18, 1963 H. G. DE BESME ETAL. 3,094,118

FACIAL MASSAGE MASK Filed Aug. 10, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

FIG. I 28 2O INVENTORS HENRY GENESTE de BESME EISS BY a WlLLlA W ATTORNEY June '18, 1963 H. G. DE BESME ETAL 3,094,118

FACIAL MASSAGE MASK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 10, 1962 INVENTORS HENRY GENESTE de BESME 8\ WILLIAM WEISS ATTORNEY United States Patent This invention relates to improvements in facial massage masks of the general type shown in the patent of Laurence E. Corcoran No. 2,676,587 of April 27, 1954.

This type of mask is composed of connected plies of flexible plastic material such, for example, as Vinylite, and is fashioned to cover the areas of the face to which the massaging action is to be applied, the connections between the plies being a series of seams in a relation which provides cells subject to distention and collapse at regular intervals by the delivery and escape of air under pressure, the flow of the air currents being controlled by a suitable pulsator. Generally speaking the mask of the Corcoran type includes connected wings which cover the malar areas of the face and extend from the zygomatic ridges to and under the mandibles, the mask being held somewhat tightly upon the face by suitable tapes.

The objects of the invention, as compared with the specific construction shown in the Corcoran patent, are a massage mask which will be more comfortable as fitted upon the face, will provide for more eifective massage through a greater area of the part of the face which extends between the chin and the neck, will be held more tightly upon the face during the intervals of distention of the cells and hence will produce a more effective massaging action, and will include means operated manually at the will of the user for increasing the air pressure used in the distention of the cells beyond the pressure of the air as delivered by the pulsator and may also be used to increase the number of pulsations beyond those which are the normal action of the pulsator. It is to be noted that these objects are accomplished with no substantial increase of manufacturing costs and that the cells of the mask may be of any desired number and arrangement, variations of the numbers and arrangement of the cells being sufficiently shown in the 'Corcoran patent. The pulsator which controls the air flow to and from the mask may be of any suitable construction but is preferably of the construction shown in the copending application of William Weiss, Serial No. 212,794.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the mask as fitted upon the face, looking at the face, and also shows the pulsator and the line of tubing for the flow of air between the pulsator and the mask.

FIGURE 2 is a view in side elevation and partial vertical section of a pulsator of preferred construction, namely the construction shown in the Wleiss application above notedf FIGURE 3 is a view in side elevation of the mask as fitted upon the face.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the mask as fitted upon the face, looking at the back of the head and neck.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a T-shaped coupling between air flow lines connected to the mask.

The mask is designated generally as M and includes wings W which cover the malar areas of the face and as composed of plies of flexible plastic material are characterized by connecting seams S which delimit communicating cells C subject to distention and collapse in accordance with the admission or escape of air under pressure. The wings W are formed integrally with and connected by a strap A which covers the area between the Patented June 18, 1963 chin and the neck and is similarly characterized by connecting seams S and communicating cells C.

In the construction shown in the Corcoran Patent No. 2,676,587 the mask is centered upon the face by a frame which fits over the nose. The experience of use has established that this frame has been found to be somewhat uncomfortable and the present invention efiects its elimination while providing for the centering of the mask upon the face with equal facility. Thus the wings W are formed with forward extensions 1 which are connected by a bridge piece B consisting of transverse plies 2 of flexible material, such as the material of which the mask is composed, which are sealed 01f from the cells C and a part 3 of flexible metal encased in the plies 2. The part 3 is bow-shaped and enables free breathing through the nose and mouth. The flexible nature of the part 3 enables the bridge piece to be adjustably shaped by the user to accord with the length of the upper lip and also to insure that the wings W will be held snugly in position upon the malar areas of the face, the part 3 remaining stable in any adjustment that may be made. It will be noted that the chin may be left uncovered, the wings W, the strap A and bridge piece B forming a loop through which the chin is exposed whereby the chin, instead of the nose, is utilized for centering the mask upon the face, the enhanced circulation of blood through the area of the chin being an incident of the massaging action.

The mask is held snugly upon the face by tapes 4 and 5, the tape 4 being connected to rearward extensions 6 of the wings W, extending over the back of the neck under the hair line, and provided with any appropriate buckle feature by means of which it may be fitted with sufiicient tightness to insure the snugness of the fit of the wings W and the strap A upon the areas which they cover. The tape 5 is connected to upward extensions 7 of the wings W and extends over the top of the head, being provided with any suitable buckle feature for tightening it upon the head to a sufiicient degree. The tape 5 preferably carries on its underside a single centrally located cell 8 composed of the same material as the mask and, like the cells C, subject to distention and collapse, the cell 8 bearing upon the top of the head. It is not the purpose of the cell 8 to effect a massaging action but rather, as distended, to cause the tape 5 to hold the mask upon the face with the utmost snugness, both as to wings W and the strap A, thereby to insure a massaging action of the most elficient character.

The flow of air for the distention and collapse of the cells of the mask is under the control of a suitable pulsator P and is through a line of tubing composed of suitable flexible material and consisting of a section 9 (FIGURE 2) enclosed within the case 10 of the pulsator and an external section 11 (FIGURE 1) connected to the section 9 as a functional continuation thereof by a rigid coupling tube 12, preferably of metal The section 11 is connected to the mask. In the particular construction shown wherein the air for the distention of the cells is additionally supplied to the cell 8, a T-coupling 13 (FIG- URE 5) is provided for the connection of the section 11 to the cells to and from which the :air is to flow. The coupling 13 has an arm 14 connected to the tubing section 11, an alining arm 15 connected to a short tubing section 11a which directly communicates with a cell of the mask, preferably at a point within the strap A, and an angularly extending arm 16 connected to a line of tubing 17 which supplies air to the cell 8, the tubing 17 extending through a guide sleeve 18 provided upon the tape 5. It will, of course, be understood that the coupling 13 is provided only in constructions which utilize the cell 8. Absent the cell 8 the coupling 13 is not required and the tubing 3 11 may be directly connected to the mask at a point preferably within the strap A.

The pulsator includes electrically operated parts, the current for which is supplied by wires 19 having a terminal plug 20 for engagement with the usual convenience outlet and carrying a manually operated switch 21 by means of which the current from the supply line may be delivered or cut off. In FIGURE 1 the pulsator P, the tubing section 11 and the current supply Wires 19 are assumed as resting upon a supporting table.

As above noted the pulsator is preferably of the construction shown in the copending application of William Weiss, Serial No. 212,794, this construction being shown in suflicient detail in FIGURE 2. The Weiss construction includes a supporting base 22 having rubber pads 23 to prevent marring of the supporting surface. The base 22 carries an upright member 24 having an air flow passage 25 to which is connected the tubing section 9, the air flow passage communicating with a recess 26 which accommodates a spring loaded air control valve 27. The base 22 by means of a bracket 28 supports an air pump 29 in communication with the air flow passage 25 for the delivery of a continuous current of air under suitable pressure. The air control valve 27 has a seating in the recess 26 and is movable between open and closed positions. In its closed position the air flows through the tubing section 9 and in its open position the air is vented to atmosphere. The valve 27 is provided with a stem 30 which projects beyond the member 24 and is engaged by a rotatable cam plate 31 operative to effect the movements of the valve 27 between its open had closed positions. The cam plate 31 is mounted upon a shaft 32 which is an element of a driving unit 33.

The air pressure for the distention of the cells of the mask may be within a range of the order of one to three pounds per square inch. The speed of rotation of the cam plate 31 is selective as determined by the speed of the motor of the driving unit and the ratio of the gearing which drives the shaft 32. Generall speaking the rotation of the cam plate 31 within a speed range of three to five rpm. has been found satisfactory although a greater speed of rotation may be provided for if it should be desired to increase the number of pulsations per minute delivered to the massage mask.

Some users of the mask may find it desirable to increase the pressure of the air delivered to the mask as compared with the pressure delivered by the pulsator and also to increase the number of pulsations per minute delivered to the mask. For these purposes the tubing section 11 may include (FIGURE 1) a manually operated bellows 34 of substantially cylindrical form composed of flexible plastic material, the bellows 'being distended during the flow of air through the tubing section 11. In order to increase the pressure of the air delivered to the mask the user simply squeezes the bellows 34 and by making two or three such squeezes during a single delivery of air by the pulsator to the tubing section 11 may increase the number of pulsations delivered to the mask.

We claim:

1. A device for toning and reinvigorating facial muscles and tissues comprising, in combination: a facial massage mask composed of connected plies of flexible material and having wings to fit snugly upon the malar regions of the face and a strap which connects the wings and fits snugly upon the area between the chin and the neck, the connections between the plies consisting of seams provided in the wings and the strap and delimiting cells in communicating relation throughout the mask and which are subject to distention and collapse, a bridge piece composed of flexible plastic material and having its ends connected to the wings, the bridge piece being positioned to extend below the nose and above the upper lip and being an element for centering the mask in snugly fitted relation upon the face, tapes connected to the wings and encircling the head as additional elements to hold the mask snugly upon the face, and flexible tubular means connected to the mask for delivering and venting air under pressure which flows into and from the cells.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the bridge piece is composed of connected plies which are sealed off from the cells and a flexible metal part of bow-shaped outline encased in the plies of the bridge piece to enable the bridge piece to be adjustably shaped to accord with the length of the upper lip and also to insure that the bridge piece will hold the wings snugly upon the malar areas of the face, the metal part remaining stable in any adjustment that may be made.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of the tapes extends over the top of the head and carries a centrally located cell which bears upon the head and is composed of connected plies of flexible plastic material and flexible tubular means is connected to such cell for delivering and venting air under pressure, the cell being distended and collapsed in synchronism' with the distention and collapse of the cells of the mask.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of the tapes extends over the top of the head and carries a centrally located cell which bears upon the head and is composed of connected plies of flexible plastic material, flexible tubular means is connected to such cells for delivering and venting air under pressure, the cell being distended and collapsed in synchroniszn with the distention and collapse of the cells of the mask, and a T-shaped coupling is included in the tubular means which is connected to the mask and has an angular leg connected to the tubular means which leads to the centrally located cell.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,071,706 Reach Feb. 23, 1937 2,626,601 Riley Jan. 27, 1953 2,676,587 Corcoran Apr. 27, 1954 

1. A DEVICE FOR TONING AND REINVIGORATING FACIAL MUSCLES AND TISSUES COMPRISING, IN COMBINAION: A FACIAL MASSAGE MASK COMPOSED OF CONNECTED PLIES OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL AND HAVING WINGS TO FIT SNUGLY UPON THE MALAR REGIONS OF THE FACE AND A STRAP WHICH CONNECTS THE WINGS AND FITS SNUGLY UPON THE AREA BETWEEN THE CHIN AND THE NECK, THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE PLIES CONSISTING OF SEAMS PROVIDED IN THE WINGS AND THE STRAP AND DELIMITING CELLS IN COMMUNICATING RELATION THROUGHOUT THE MASK AND WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO DISTENTION AND COLLASPE, A BRIDGE PIECE COMPOSED OF FLEXIBLE PLASTIC MATERIAL AND HAVING ITS ENDS CONNECTED TO THE WINGS, THE BRIDGE PIECE BEING POSITIONED TO EXTEND BELOW THE NOSE AND ABOVE THE UPPER LIP AND BEING AN ELEMENT FOR CENTERING THE MASK IN SNUGLY FITTED RELATION UPON THE FACE, TAPS CONNECTED TO THE WINGS AND ENCIRCLING THE HEAD AS ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS TO HOLD THE MASK SNUGLY UPON THE FACE, AND FLEXIBLE TUBULAR MEANS CONNECTED TO THE MASK FOR DELIVERING AND VENTING AIR UNDER PRESSURE WHICH FLOWS INTO AND FROM THE CELLS. 